Bowling pin elevating mechanism



1954 H. w. PHILLIPS 2,686,053

BOWLING PIN ELEVATING MECHANISM Filed June 23, 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR HENRY W. PHILLIPS WJXJZII a or'iz fg Aug. 10, 1954 H w. PHILLIPS 2,636,053

BOWLING PIN ELEVATING MECHANISM Filed June 23, 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet I5 ENTOR HENRY w. PHILLIPS ((iforneg Aug. 10, 1954 Filed June 23. 1948 H. W. PHILLIPS BOWLING PIN ELEVATING MECHANISM 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 1954 H. w. PHILLIPS 2,686,053

BOWLING PIN ELEVATING MECHANISM Filed June 25, 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR HENRY W. PHILLIPS EM 4w Aug. 10, 1954 H. w. PHILLIPS 2,686,053-

BOWLING PIN ELEVATING MECHANISM Filed June 23. 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR HENRY w. PHILLIPS Aug. 10, 1954 H. w. PHILLIPS 2,636,053

sowuuc PIN ELEVATING MECHANISM Filed June 23. 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 FIG.|2

- INYENTOR HENRY W. PHILLIPS B mm m ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 10, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BOWLING PIN. ELEVATING MECHANISM Henry W. Phillips, Kenmore, N. Y., assignor to American Machine & Foundry Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application June23, 1948, Serial No. 34,695

20 Claims. 1

This invention relates to machines for automatically performing the functions of a .pin boy on a bowling alley, and more particularly to apparatus for removing and conveying bowling pins from the pit at the back end of a bowling alley and delivering them to a suitable pin distributor of an automatic bowling pin setting machine.

When automatic mechanism is employed for performing the functions of a pin boy, it has to be fast and reliable and it must also handle the bowling pins gently to minimize wear and tear on the pins. Ihis invention constitutes an improvement in the mechanical art of separating the bowling pins from the bowling ball and then conveying the pins from the pit of a bowling alley to a suitable distributing apparatus which replaces them back on the bowling alley at the proper time.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a bowling pin elevating device which will automatically pick up and remove bowling pins from the back end of the bowling pin setting machine which will be fast and accurate and which will prevent bowling pins from jamming in the bowling pin setting machine.

It is a further object of this invention to provide improved pin deflecting mechanism which will divert pins from an area where they have a tendency to jam and means for stopping the operation of the driving mechanism where the pin deflector has failed to prevent the jam.

Another object is to provide a deflecting device at the bottom of the bowling pit which will direct bowling pins into the range of operation of the flights of a pin elevator.

Another object is to provide .pin elevating mechanism which will travel along a continuous endless path which is substantially rectangular in shape and forward pins lengthwise to a pin delivery station.

A further object is to provide a pin elevator consisting of a pair of spaced apart chains between which pin conveying flights are supported at spaced intervals at their centers.

Another object is to provide pin elevating flights which have curved pin supporting surfaces which engage with the end of the pin to prevent it from sliding off the flight as it goes around a curved path of travel.

Another object is to provide a pin elevating device at the back end of a pin setting machine which will have a pair of rails along its lowermost horizontal path of travel on to which bowling These rails are so constructed that they are substantially on the same level as the bottom of the pit and slightly below the top of the carpet to thereby avoid pins piling on top of one another and yet provide a definite trough to help guide them as they are forwarded out of the pit.

A further object is to provide flights which will have fingers adapted to pass inwardly and downwardly beyond the rails of the pin elevator so that as the flights are disengaged from the rails and travel upwardly the fingers will positively support the end of the pin as it is being lifted lengthwise upwardly.

Another object is to provide a housing enclosing th flights of a pin elevating chain on all sides along that portion of its path of travel where bowling pins are elevated vertically from the bottom or" the pit to support the pins pushed upwardly by the flights and prevent them from falling sidewise.

Other objects and features of the invention will appear as the description of the particular physical embodiment selected to illustrate the invention progresses. In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, like characters of reference have been applied to corresponding parts throughout the several views which make up the drawings. I

Fig. 1 is a front elevation on an enlarged scale of the upper portion of the pin elevating and conveying mechanism with certain portions broken away for clarity.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation on an enlarged scale of the lower portion of the pin conveying mechanism with certain portions being broken away for clarity.

Fig. 3 is a rear view of the pin elevating mechanism and associated parts as seen from the back end of the machine.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the pin elevating mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a sectional plan View of the pin elevator mechanism taken on the line 55 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a partial side elevation illustrating the lower run of the pin conveyor and the adjacent portion of the carpet taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a partial front elevation illustrating the pin diverting device for moving pins from the right cornerv of the pit towards the center taken on the line l-l of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a partial sectional side elevation of the pin conveyor mechanism as taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 is a partial side elevation illustrating the pin guide taken on the line 'B-Q of Fig. 1.

Fig. 10 is a sectional front elevation illustrating on a larger scale the pin guide shown in Fig. 9 taken on the line i0|@ of Fig. s.

Fig. 11 is a partial front elevation of the pin elevator shaft illustrating the pin deflector and safety switch mechanism for stopping the pin elevator.

Fig. 12 is a partial side elevation, partly in section, illustrating the pin deflector and safety switch mechanism.

Fig. 13 is a partial sectional side elevation of the pin deflector mechanism, taken on line 13-13 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 14. is a cross section illustrating a portion of the pin guiding tube and a flight attached to the elevator chain taken on line 15-44 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 15 is a cross sectional side elevation showing a flight of the pin elevator.

Various machines have been developed for mechanically performing the functions of a pin boy at a bowling alley. Machines of this general type, clear a bowling alley of standing and fallen pins or of just fallen pins in accordance with the rules of the game, pick up the thrown bowling ball and return it to the player along a ball return runway and place a new set of pins on the alley at the proper time.

The present invention provides an improved type of pin conveyor for unscrambling and removing pins from the pit of an alley and elevating the pins for delivery to a suitable magazine preliminary to their being spotted upon the alley. This invention is therefore especially well adapted for incorporation with automatic pin setting machines.

My apparatus for removing bowling pins from the pit of a bowling alley is preferably mounted to one side of the pit. In the embodiment I have used, I have for purposes of illustration shown this side to be the back end of the pit P.

In the course of the game of bowling, balls and pins at certain intervals are swept from the alley H) into the pit P. The pins and balls are then forwarded by suitable means to the side of the pit where the pin elevator is located. A suitable cushion or ball bumper M, for stopping a thrown bowling ball, is supported at its upper end by studs i5 which project from suitable brackets i6 fixed to a skeleton frame 26 of the bowling pin setting machine (Fig. 4).

Abutments i8 are mounted on the bottom of bumper M at opposite sides for holding the bumper in place. Suitable guide studs projecting from the abutments i8 slide inwardly into openings formed in brackets 22 which are attached to the skeleton frame 26. Suitable compression springs 2d are mounted inside of the bracket 22 and coact with the sliding studs 2c to absorb the shock and movement of the ball bumper M when a thrown bowling ball strikes the bumper M.

The pin conveying and elevating mechanism for removing the bowling pins from the pit P is mounted in that portion of the skeleton framework 25 which extends across the back end of the bowling alley. The pin conveyor and elevator consists of a pair of spaced sprocket chains 28 and 3E! traveling over pairs of spaced sprockets 32 along a substantially rectangular path of travel thereby utilizing space which would usually be wasted.

The sprocket chains 28 and are tightened by means of a suitable tensioning device consisting 4 of bars 34 which are slidably mounted in brackets 36. Brackets 36 are attached to the framework 26. An adjusting screw 38 having a lock nut 49 is provided for moving the sliding bar 34 in and out of the bracket 36. Sprockets 28a are mounted on the end of each of the sliding bars 34 and engage with the sprocket chains 28 and 30.

Driving movement is imparted to the sprocket chains 28 and 30 from a motor 42. A pulley 44 is mounted on the shaft 46 of motor 12 and imparts driving movement to a belt 28 traveling over the drive pulley 50. The drive pulley 5B is fixedly mounted on a shaft 52 which is rotatably mounted in suitable bearing brackets 5i and 56 supported by the skeleton framework 26. A sprocket 58 (Figs. 1 and 4) is fixedly mounted on the shaft 52 and imparts driving movement through the sprocket chain Gil to the sprocket 62.

Sprocket 62 is fixedly mounted on the shaft 64 to which is also fixedly connected another speed reducing sprocket 66. Shaft 8 3 is supported in suitable bearings carried by the skeleton framework 28. Sprocket if} is driven from the sprocket 66 through a sprocket chain 68. The sprocket 10 is fixedly mounted on the shaft 72 which is rotatably mounted in suitable bearings 14 and I6 fixed to the skelton framework 26. Sprockets l8 and so are also fixedly mounted on the shaft 1 2 and impart traveling movement to the sprocket chains 28 and 39.

Pin engaging flights 82 are fixedly connected at spaced intervals at their centers between the sprocket chains 28 and 38 (Fig. 12). A pair of rails 84 are mounted between the sprocket chains 28 and 38 where they are trained to travel along a horizontal path of travel at a level slightly below the horizontal carpet i2 as shown in Fig. 6. Each flight 82 has fingers 82a on one side which pass along the sides of rails 86 as they travel horizontally across the delivery end of conveyor 12. Rails 84 form the bottom of a trough the side walls and 87 of which have chain channels 88 and 88 (Fig. 6). The wall 8'5 has an inclined guide 39 which causes pins received from the carpet 12 to roll or slide into the pin receiving trough mentioned.

The carpet or belt i2 travels in the direction indicated by the arrow over a pair of spaced rollers 9! (Figs. 4 and 6). The roller 9! at the far end of the pit (Fig. 4) is fixedly mounted on the shaft 50 which is supported in suitable bearings attached to the skeleton framework 26 of the automatic pin setting machine. Sprocket 92 (Fig. 2) is fixedly mounted on the shaft and is driven by means of sprocket chain 94 from the sprocket 96 (Figs. 1 and 4). Sprocket 96 is fixedly mounted on a shaft 98 having conventional universal joints i139 and I02 to allow for differences in alignment between the bearing I04 mounted on the framework 26 and bearing 586 of the spur gear box 588.

The gears in the spur box Hi8 are driven by a. shaft H0 connected to the bevel gear box H2 (Fig. 3). The gears in the bevel gear box i 12 are driven by a shaft I 14 to which is fixedly attached the sprocket H5. Sprocket H6 is driven from a sprocket H8 through sprocket chain [20. Sprocket H8 is fixedly mounted on shaft I22 which is rotatably supported in suitable bearings fixed to the skeleton frame 26. Sprocket 124 is fixedly mounted on the shaft I22 and receives driving movement through the sprocket chain i28 from the sprocket I26 (Fig. 4) which is fixedly mounted on the drive shaft 52. A suitable 5; sprocket -I mayberovided for-tightening chain I28.

Toprevent pins from comingtorestin the right hand corner of-th'e -pit where the flights '82 commence traveling upwardly, a-pin deflector is providedfor directing pins away fromthislcorner towards the-center'of thecarpet -I2.- This :pin deflectorconsists of a pair of paddles I32 and I34 which are fixedly mounted on .a sprocket chain I36, travelingoverspaced sprockets I38 and-I46. Sprocket I40-is fixedly-mounted 'on the shaft I42 which issupported in: suitablegbearings fixed to the skeleton framework 26 of the automaticpin settingmachine. I

A second: sprocket. I4! (Fig. 4) is. also fixedly mounted on shaft I42 and is drivenby'az-sprocket chain I44 from the sprocket I46; Sprocket2l463is fixedly mounted on 17118281181131 .MBTSWhiCh'iS sup-. ported. in suitable bearings connected. to the skeleton .framework.-:26 of the :pin. spotting machine." A drive sprocket I5Il(Fig..4) isalsoflxedly mounted on the shaft I48 and engages ,with the sprocket chain 30y-between two of :the. guide sprockets 32 as .sh'owninFig. 2. Paddles'I32 and I34 are thereforedriven each time that the conveyor: chain 38 of the ,pin:' elevator is driven;

Pins dischargedinto thepit P areforwarded by the paddles I32 and I34 and the-traveling carpet I 2 over the guide plate 89 (Fig. 6) into the trough made up of walls ,85 and 81 and the rails 84; Pins so discharged are engaged by the traveling flights 82 and movedlengthwise along the horizontal rails 84 and up along the inclined .rails 84a -(Fig. 2). A continuation ofguide walls '85 and 87 is provided on either side of the inclined rails 84a to form a U-shaped channel for .the pins. The upp er ends of rails 84a, extend under a guide plate58 so that the pins are guided by-the guide platev I58 at this point instead .of by rails 84a and the-horizontal guides 85 and 87 connect with the vertical side plates I54 and IE6 respectively. At this area thepins are supported in a -U -shaped trough made up of side plates I54 and I56 and the bottom guide plate I58 as shown in. Figs. 2 and-5..

As the pins are pushed upwardlyby the flights 82 theygradually assume a position which is substantiallyyertical as shown in Fig, 12.- When apin reaches this position if the upper portion of the pin tilts outwardly from the U-shaped channel, as shown in Fig. 12, it willeither be pushed away fromthe flight 82 bythe pin deflectorsI 86.01 will be guided into the rectangular tube made -up.of cover plate I52 and a U-shapedchannel consistingof side walls I54; I56 and the back plate I556. The side walls I54 and I56 have suitable chain supportingchannels I60 and I 62(Fig. 5) through, which the sprocket chains 28 and 30 travel upwardly.

The pin deflector I86 is pivotally connected to a swinging bracket I64 which is flxedly'mounted on the shaft.I66.. Shaft I66is freely supported in suitable bearings I68 and 'IIll'iormed'in two downwardly projecting lugs I69 and ill of bracket I12 '(Fig. 11).. Bracket'I'IZis connected by suitable screws I14 and I16 to the sidewalls I54 and I56 of the tubular. housingthrough which the flights 82 travel. A'cam. I18for stopping the pin elevator in case of a3 am is fixedly mounted on one end of shaft I66 as shown in-Fig. 11. Torsion spring I80'is connected at one endto the cam I18 and at the other .end to "the lug'I'Il -and is not active-in its neutral position shownin Fig., 1 2. The spring I88 serves to yieldably urge the swinging-bracket -;I 64-toits vertical position,-when it is engaged by a*b'owlingpin:*

The pin deflecting plate I 86-;is: mounted onia;

plate I86 can swing downwardly under theaction:

of gravity away .from the swinging bracketsl64. The upperendof the plate .I 86-.-h'as a'bentxportionx I92 which is movable into. engagementzwith the two downwardly: projectingdugs I69: and. Ill; The lower end of .the. plated 86ahas ,acurved portion I94 whichv ;.curves..around: the .;shaft I88 to provide a smoothpin engaging surfacee When a bowling pin; is;;raised=;upwardly; as shown-in Figs. .12..and1;13.there is.a;;.possibility that the pin supportedon th'eflight82zwill not be exactly vertical as the leadinggend; ofthe pin: is about to bepushed into the enclosed tubular passage madeup of the platesI52, I54, I56:and I58. In this case if the-upper end .ofzthe-pin does not project too far outwardly :it will engageswith the yieldable plate I86 which will: cam, the head of the pin into the tubular housing mentioned. On the other hand if the pin projects outwardly beyond acertain point .it willengagewith. the curved section 1940f plate I86 and. cause the swinging bracket I64 to swing on its pivot shaft I66 as shownin dotted outline insFig. 12. The pin will then be pushed out sothat it falls away from the flight 82 and falls towardsthe bottom -of the pit where it will be pickedupagain by another flight traveling along the-horizontal plane in said pit.

If it should so happen that a. pin should jam between the flight 82 and the swinging bracket I64 it will cause the bracket I64 to swing outwardly to such an extent that the cam I18 engages with the roller I96 of a trigger arm I98 and depresses the same; The roller .196 isspivotedjto the trigger arm I88 which actuates a conventional electrical switch 206. When the switch 200J'is--actuated,: as will be hereinafter explained, the=travelingmovemet of conveyor .chainsz28-and38 to which the flights 82 are attachedis ,stopped so: that-the jammed bowling'pincan be removed before it causesany damage. The yieldable. pindeflector I 86 normally pushes the. leadingend of the pin being. elevated either .into'; the tubular .1: housing made up of plates I52; I54; I56-andl58 as shown inFig. 13, or pushes it away from the flight :82 as shown in Fig. 12 .before it-has achance to become jammed. In. other words thegyieldable' deflector I86 normally preventsthe. pins from becoming jammed and the switch 266is merely provided as a safety factor in the event the pindeflector-fails to prevent .the jam;

As the pins 'are elevated upwardlyjnside the tubular passage madeup of cover :plate 'I 52," side plates I54 and I56-and: back plate I56; the pins reach acurvedchannel: area:282I (Fig. 1). The coverplate I52 at this area has atroughshaped section 264 (Fig. 14) formed to facilitate the travel of the pinsaround thiswurved path of travel. As the pin reaches the top of this curvature it is discharged from the flight-82 ontoan inclined guide plate206 from wherethe pin slides downwardly into contact with another guide plate 268 which diverts-said pinin between the 7 guide plate 2 I 6 is positioned between the conveyor belts 2 l and 2l2 so that the head end of the pin will trail on top of this plate 2 l6 as its body rests on and travels along with the conveyor belts 2H) and 2 l2.

One end 218 of the pin supporting plate 216 is curved so that when a bowling pin is dropped in between the conveyor belts 2m and H2 it will be oriented when it strikes the curved portion 2&8. For example if the pin is delivered head first in between the conveyor belts 2 l0 and 2%2 the head end of the pin will strike the curved plate 2! so that the bottom end of the pin is moved forward. If on the other hand the bottom end of the pin is delivered to the belts 2 i0 and 212 first the belts will engage and pull the bottom end of the pin forward first so that the head end of the pin will again fall towards the rear. All pins therefore will be delivered bottom first to a suitable pin distributor (not shown) which may be associated with the delivery end of the conveyor belts 2H! and H2.

The conveyor belts 210 and 212 travel over spaced pulleys 222 and 224 (Fig. 4) A third pair of pulleys 226 are provided for draping the belts 2H? and 2l2 around the spaced drive pulleys 222.

Pulleys 22 i and 226 are freely mounted on shaft 223 and studs 225 respectively supported by the skeleton framework 26 of the bowling pin setting machine. The drive pulleys 222 are fixedly mounted on the shaft H0 which is supported between the spur gear box Hi8 and the bevel gear box H2. Rotary movement is imparted to the shaft Hi! from the bevel gear box H2.

Operation The operation of my invention may be briefly described as follows:

After a bowling ball is thrown by a player it actuates a suitable detecting device such as a photoelectric cell which sets the bowling pin setting machine into operation. In the course of operation, a sweep such as that shown in U. S. Patent 2,250,503 sweeps pins from the bowling alley into the pit P. The bowling ball either by its own momentum or by the action of the sweep is also deposited into the pit P.

Movement of the belt l2 forwards the pins and bowling ball discharged into the pit P towards one side thereof. In the present disclosure I have shown how the ball and pins may be conveniently moved to the rear of the pit, but in actual practice whichever side is most conveniently suitable for use with the machine employed can be used.

Since the bottom of the bumper H1 is spaced from the carpet 2 a distance less than the diameter of a bowling ball the ball is stopped from further movement when it engages with the bumper M. Bowling pins on the other hand, having a diameter less than the distance between the bumper l4 and the carpet l2, are forwarded under the bumper l4 onto the plate 89 from where they roll and slide onto the rails 84 forming the bottom of the channel which is enclosed by side walls 85 and 81.

One of the main purposes of my invention is to decrease wear, and tear on the bowling pins and to quickly effect their separation and removal from the pit. I have accomplished this by providing a troughlike channel along the side of the pit into which pins are pushed. By making the width of the channel and flights 82 approximately the size of the widest diameter of a bowling pin,

bowlingpins are alignedby sliding into the chan- 8 nel and also by the rectilinear movement of the flights 82.

It will be noted that the distance the pinsroll from the belt i2 into the channel referred to is very small thereby minimizing pin wear. By spacing flights 82 a distance greater than the length of a bowling pin and less than the length of two bowling pins each flight 82 can only elevate one bowling pin at a time. As a consequence undesirable tumbling caused by several pins being carried upwardly by a flight and then falling back into the pit has been prevented.

I find that by extending the channel adjoining the side of the pit floor l2 along the greater length thereof, the pickup capacity of the conveyor flights is increased since several pins may be simultaneously received by different flights and forwarded along at the same time.

Looking towards the back of the machine in the lower right hand corner where the tracks 84a; commence traveling upwardly as shown in Fig. 2 there is a possibility that pins could become immobilized in this corner. A similar possibility for this to happen might occur in the left hand corner of the machine where the flights change from a downward to a horizontal path of travel. To avoid this, I have provided suitable pin deflectors in the form of paddles H2, and camming plates l3l and l35 (Figs. 5 and 7). The paddles 32, 134 and cam plates l3! and I35 divert pins heading for these corners towards the center of a carpet l2 which forwards them onto the horizontal portion of rails 84.

The camming plates I31 and I35 and traveling paddles l32 and i3 3 may be advantageously used with other types of pin elevators to improve their reliability by providing positive means for avoiding the immobilization of pins in blind corners. To be successful an automatic pin setting machine must be fool proof to dispense with the need of a pin boy and should not require a machine attendant to take his place.

When the pins reach the end of their travel on rails 8 they commence traveling along the inclined rails 8E0. (Fig. 2) and rear guide plate 58 which causes the forward end of the pin to assume a more or less vertical position. At the area where the pin changes its direction of travel in this manner the curvature of the pin engaging flight 82 (Fig. 12) supports the bottom of the pin so that the pin can swivel thereon and is prevented from sliding along the flight when the flight and pin travel around a curve. This has the advantage that the end of the pin engaging with the pin engaging flight 82 is more or less centrally located at all times with respect to the flight thereby avoiding unnecessary contact and wear with the side guides surrounding the path of travel of the nights 82.

As the pin continues its further upward movement it enters into an inclined tubular housing made up of the cover plate I52, the back plate 458 and the side plates 154 and 155. Since the back or pin guiding plate 158 is inclined the cover plate 162 could be omitted if desired. In the event that the leading end of a pin being elevated by a flight 82 is positioned at an angle away from the pin guiding wall I58, it will strike against a second Din deflecting device shown in the form of a yieldable plate H36. If the pin inclines at a very great angle it will strike the curved portion H34 of the yieldable plate I86 and thereby be pushed away from the flight 82. On the other hand if the misalignment is only slight, then in that case the pin will be cammed by the plate I86 backinto correctalignment as shown in Fig. 13.

The yieldable pin deflector I85 is positioned at the entrance to the pin elevator housing in the manner shown in Fig. 2 to prevent jams by either removing misaligned pins or by correcting their misalignment before entering the tubular housing mentioned.

If desired, a safety switch such as 200 may be associated with the deflecting plate I86 to incapacitate the pin elevator: in the event that the plate I86 should fail to correct a misaligned pin --by effecting its removal or by correcting its po- -sition. In Fig. 12 I have shown how such a safetyswitch can be mounted. In the event a jam 'should take place the bracket I45 supporting the =pinengaging plate I86 will be moved away from its normal position to suchan extent that the "cam I78 will engage with the roller I96 of trig- :ger arm I98 which actuates the switch 200 to bring the pin elevator to a stop.

The upper end of the tubular-housing I52,

I54, I56 and I58 has a curvedportion 202 which directs the pin towards the inclined guide plate or slide 286. The cover plate I52 is outwardly convex as shown by the reference character 2% (Figl l) to facilitate the pin traveling around this curved section- 202 of the tubular housing by providing adequate clearance and guidance -forthe pin.

When the pin has been discharged onto the .slide 206 it slides lengtwisedownwardly into con- --tact with guide plate zflswhich directs the leading end of the pin in between the orienting belts 2H] and H2. If the bottomend of the pin is delivered to the belts 2i (1 and 2I2 first the movement of belts ZIUand 2I2 traveling in the direction indicated in Fig. 4 causes thebottom end to be forwarded first with the'head end trailing behind-on top of the guide plate 2H1.

If the head endof'the pin is delivered to the belts 2H! and ZIZ first the body of the pin is engaged by thebelts-illl-and 2I2 and the head end is held back by the curved end 2| 8 of the guide plate 2'I6 thereby causing the bottom 'end of the pin to be forwarded firstwith the'head'end trailing behind.

The invention above described may be varied inconstruction within the scope of the claims,

for the particular device'selected to illustrate -theiinvention is but. one ofmanypossible embodiments of the same. 'The invention, therefore, is -not to be restricted to 'the'precise details of the 1 structure shown: and described.

What is claimed is: 1. Apparatus for removing bowling pins from I the pit ofa bowling alley and: delivering them lengthwise to the pin settingmechanism "of an automatic bowling pinsetting machinecomprising a'pin receiving troughextending horizontally along most of the length'of one side of the pit and having the bottom-thereof at substantially pit floor level, said trough having a width which limits bowling pinsreceived insaid trough to t-lengthwise travel, means forwardingbowling pins lfromthe pit directly to said trough, a pin conveying device having flights traveling along said "trough and along a substantially perpendicular 1 path 1 of travel connecting with said horizontal trough :to "carry bowling pins lengthwise I first "horizontally'andthenupwardly out of the pit, a i tubular housing surrounding: said zipin conveyor *1 along; its: perpendicular. path ofv travel to confine e saidpins to lengthwise movement, a pindefiector mounted at the entrance to said tubular housproperly positioned on the flights of the pin conveying device, said deflector being constructed and arrangedto be movable along at least two different paths in the same plane, and adrive for moving said conveying device along said'horizontal and vertical paths of travel 2. Apparatusfor removing bowling pinsfrom the pit of a bowling alleyv anddelivering them toithe pin setting mechanism of: an automatic bowling pin setting machine comprising, a bowling pin conveyor traveling: ina closedpath of travel, the lowermost portion of said path of travel being horizontally along-substantial1y the entire length of one side andat substantially the level of the. pit floor and another portion of said path beingin an upward direction leading from the end of said horizontal path of travel,

a pin receiving channel formed along .the-side of said pit Where said conveyor travels-so that the bottom of the channelis at substantially pit fioor level, a plurality of elongated rails positioned in said channel for supporting pins, means for moving pins directly from the pit-floor to said channel, flights connected to said conveyor and extending transversely across said channel for engaging. and moving bowling pins along said channel, a guide through which-bowling pins elevated by saidflights are conveyed after leaving the horizontal portion of said path-of travel, and driving mechanism for moving said flights along said horizontal and vertical paths of travel.

3. Apparatus for removing bowling pinsfrom the pit of a bowling alley and conveying them to a pin distributing apparatus for replacement on the bowling alley in playing arrangement comprising, a pin receiving trough having the bottom thereof extending along and at substantially'the same level asthe pit floor, said trough having a width slightly larger than the diameter of a bowling pin to restrict said pins to lengthwise travel, means for discharging bowling pins directly from said pit floor into said trough, a pair of spaced endless sprocket chains, sprockets for. guiding and confining saidchains to a substantially quadrilateral path of travel, and having a portion of saidpath of travel-extending along said trough and another-portion of' said path being vertical with respect to said trough, flights positioned to have thecenterportion of the fiight engage with the end of a bowling pin when elevatingthe pin lengthwise betweenthe chains, supports fixedly connecting the opposite sides of said flights at their center to the sprocket chains to minimize movement between .the center of the flight and the end of .the pin when pushing bowling pins around curves, and a drive moving said sprocket chains to bring said'flights into engagement with the ends of bowling pins 'discharged into said trough and thereby elevate the pins from said trough upwardly to a pin receiving device.

-4. Apparatus for removing bowling pins from the pit floor of abowling alley and conveying them to a pin setting apparatus of 'abowling pin setting'machine comprising, a pair of spaced endlesssprocket chains, a pin receiving trough having a width slightly larger than the diameter of a bowling pin positioned adjacent and at substantially the same level as said pit floorfor confining said pins to'lengthwise travel; sprockets for confining said'chains to an'endless path'of travel, a portion of saidpath of'travel being adjacent and substantially level with theside of the floor :ofthe: pit and in said trough and another connecting portion of said path of travel being at an angle thereto to form a curve, mechanism for forwarding pins from the pit directly to said first named portion of the sprocket chain path, flights connected at their centers between said sprocket chains at predetermined spaced intervals, said flights having a concave surface engaging with the ends of bowling pins and pushing them along the path of travel of said sprocket chains for a predetermined distance, said concave surface having a curvature to minimize movement between said surface and the end of a bowling pin when pushing a bowl ng pin around said curve, and a drive for imparting traveling movement to the flights and sprocket chains to move pins so engaged from said trough upwardly to a pin receiving device.

5. In a bowling pin setting machine, a pin conveyor for moving pins lengthwise along a predetermined path of travel, a portion of which is substantially horizontal and another portion connecting therewith being substantially vertical, a tubular housing surrounding the vertical por tion of said pin conveyor, flights mounted at spaced intervals on said conveyor for engaging with the ends of bowling pins, a pivoted member mounted at the entrance to said tubular housing and adjacent to the path of travel of said flights to push greatly misaligned pins off said flights, a second pivoted member having a flat surface and swingably connected to the flrst pivoted member so as to dispose said flat surface in position to engage and correctly position slightly misaligned pins, and a drive for moving said flights upwardly through said tubular housing.

6. A device for removing bowling pins one at a time from the pit of a bowling alley comprising, a pair of spaced elongated pin guiding rails extending adjacent and substantially level with one side of the pit floor and then upwardly forming a curve and adapted to receive bowling pins therebetween and thereby constrain pins sliding thereon to lengthwise movement, a conveyor having a path of travel along said rails, a forwarding device for moving pins across the pit floor directly onto said rails, pin engaging flights connected at their middle to said conveyor and passing over said rails to slide said pins lengthwise on said rails, said flights having surfaces which are concave at least in the direction of said curve with respect to the ends of bowling pins with which they engage to provide a transverse support for the end of the pin when the pin is conveyed by said flights around said curve, and a drive moving said conveyor and flights along said rails to push bowling pins deposited on said rails lengthwise out of said pit.

7. A device for removing bowling pins one at a time from the pit of a bowling alley comprising, a conveyor having flights with pin engaging areas of a size approximating the largest diameter of a bowling pin, mechanism for guiding said flights along a path of travel adjoining and substantially level with one side of the floor of the pit, means for delivering bowling pins directly from the pit floor to said flights, a wall extending along and closely adjacent the path of travel of said flights for restricting pins pushed by said flights to lengthwise travel, an upwardly inclined U-shaped channel for receiving and guiding bowling pins pushed by said flights, a pin guiding tube connecting with the end of said U-shaped channel, and conveyor drive mechanism moving said flights along a continuous path of travel to push bowling pins endwise in front of said flights through said U-shaped channel and tube to a pin receiving apparatus.

8. A device having the features provided for in claim 7 and a pin deflector positioned adjacent the area where said tube connects with said U- shaped channel to deflect any pins which are not properly positioned to enter said pin guiding tube away from said flights.

9. A device having the features provided for in claim 7 and a movable pin deflector positioned adjacent the area where said pin guiding tube connects with said U-shaped channel to deflect any pins which are not properly positioned to enter said tube away from said flights, a conveyor incapacitating device, and a switch positioned to be actuated by said deflector to actuate said conveyor incapacitating device when it is pushed by a pin beyond a predetermined distance.

10. Apparatus for removing bowling pins from the pit of a bowling alley comprising, means for continuously moving bowling pins lying on the floor of the pit to one side of the floor of the pit, a wall spaced from said side a distance causin bowling pins to move lengthwise therebetween, a conveyor having flights for engaging with the ends of bowling pins discharged into the space between said wall and the side of the pit, an upwardly inclined chute connected with said space, a conveyor drive moving said flights along the side of said pit to advance bowling pins lengthwise along said space and up along said chute, and a deflecting device positioned in said pit adjacent to said inclined chute for diverting pins being moved by said means from the corner of said pit towards the flights of said conveyor.

11. Apparatus for removing bowling pins from the pit of a bowling alley comprising, a channel having a width approximating the largest diameter of a bowling pin and a length extending along and substantially level and adjacent with the greater part of one side of the pit floor, said channel having a depth approximately the diameter of a bowling pin, pin engaging flights spaced from each other a distance sufficient to allow only one pin to fit in lengthwise between said spaced flights and be forwarded thereby, means moving the pins directly from the pit floor to said channel to be engaged by said flights, a second channel connected at an incline with said first named channel for directing pins lengthwise to a pin delivery station, and a drive moving said flights in a continuous path the lowermost portion of said path passing through said first named channel to forward pins lengthwise along said first and second channels.

12. Apparatus for removing bowling pins from the pit of a bowling alley and elevating them to a pin discharge station, said apparatus comprising a flexible member arranged to travel in an endless path, the lowermost portion of said path extending a substantial distance parallel and substantially level with and adjacent the length of one side of the pit floor of the bowling alley and another portion of said path connecting with said first portion and extending vertically to a pin discharge station, guides positioned adjacent said portions of said path of travel to confine said pins to lengthwise travel, pin engaging flights mounted on said flexible member at intervals sufficient to receive the length of a bowling pin therebetween, and means for forwarding bowling pins directly from the pit floor to the side of the pit where the pins are deposited between said flights and forwarded lengthwise to said pin discharge station.

13; Apparatus for removing bowling pins from the pit of a bowling alley and elevating them to a pin discharge station, comprising a U-shaped pin receiving channel having a cross sectional width and depth approximating the largest diameter of a bowling pin extending along one side and at substantially the same level as said pit, means for moving bowling pins from the floor of the pit along a substantially horizontal plane directly into said U-shaped channel, and a plurality of spaced pin engaging flights moving in a closed path the lower run of which travels along said U-shaped channel to forward pins lengthwise along said channel, said flights being operative to advance bowling pins to said pin discharge station.

14. Apparatus for removing bowling pins from the pit of a bowling alley and conveying said pins to a pin delivery station, said. apparatus comprising, a race the bottom of said race extending adjacent and at substantially the same level as one side of the pit of a bowling alley, said race being of a width suflicient to confine said pins to a lengthwise path of travel, a pin delivery station located at a distance from said race, pin pushing flights traveling in an endless path, the lowermost run of said flights being along said race to forward bowling pins lengthwise therealong, said flights being operative to advance bowling pins to said pin delivery station, and mechanism for forwarding pins located in said pit along a plane substantially the same as the pit floor directly to said race.

15. Apparatus for removing bowlin pins from the pit of a bowling alley and raising them to a pin delivery station, said apparatus comprising a race the bottom of which extends along and adjacent and at substantially the same level as one side of the floor of the pit, said race having a width and depth approximately the diameter of a bOWliIlgpin, means for diverting pins on said floor toward the center portion of said race, means including said diverting means for forwarding pins on said pit floor directly to the race, and pin engaging flights traveling in a closed circuitous path for engaging and fOlWELI'dlIlg pins lengthwise to said pin delivery station, the lowermost portion of said path extending along said race, whereby said flights forward pins lengthwise along said race to said station.

16. A device for removing bowling pins one at a time from the pit of a bowling alley comprising, a bowling pin receiving trough extending along, adjacent, and the bottom thereof being at substantially the same level as one side of said pit, the sides of said trough being spaced to confine a bowling pin to lengthwise movement therebetween, pin engaging flights spaced at a distance allowing only one bowling pin at a time to be moved lengthwise between each pair of said flights, means confinin said pin engaging flights to an endless circuitous path of travel, the lowermost portion of said path of travel of said flights being alon said trough, and apparatus for delivering bowling pins on the floor of said pit directly from the floor of said pit into said trough.

17. A device for removing bowling pins one at a time from the pit of a bowling alley comprising, a pin receivingtrough extending adjacent, along, and at substantially the same level as one side of the pit, said trough being of a width and depth which is approximately equal to the diameter of a bowling pin, a pin delivery station, pin supporting rails extending along the bottom of said trough and at approximately pit floor level, flights movable along said trough to slide pins lengthwise along said rails, means formoving said flights in a closed path alon a horizontal and an upward path of travel between said pit and said pin delivery station, the lowermost portion of said path of travel being horizontally along the length of saidtrough, means supporting each of said flights at opposite sides at the middle of the flight to provide transverse support for the ends of pins when being moved from a horizontal to an upward path of travel, and mechanism for forwarding bOWllllg pins lying on the floor of said pit directly therefrom onto said rails inthe path'oftravelof said flights.

18. Apparatus for removing bowling pins from the pit of a bowling alley and delivering them to a pin receiving station located at an elevation higher than the pit floor, said apparatus comprising, a trough extending along and at substantially the same level as one side of the pit floor for receiving bOWllIlg pins discharged from said pit floor into said trough and restricting them to endwise travel, a conveyor traveling in a path along said trough to said pin delivery station, a

portion of the conveyor path from said trough to said pin delivery station bein curved causing bowling pins to be moved lengthwise in horizontal and vertical directions at diiferent times, a drive for moving said conveyor along said path, and concave pin engaging flights connected at predetermined intervals to said conveyor, said flights being disposed transversely of the conveyor, and being cylindrically concave about a transverse axis, the concave surface facing in the direction of movement of the flights, said concave curvature being sufficient to cause the end of a bowling pin engaged by a flight to remain centered with respect to said flight by swiveling in said flight when the pin in being moved changes from a horizontal path of travel to a vertical path of travel.

19. Apparatus for removin bowling pins from the pit of a bowling alley and elevatin them to a pin receiving station located at an elevation higher than the pit floor comprising, an elongated trough having a width and depth approximating that of the diameter of a bowling pin, said trough extending horizontally alon the major portion of the length of one side of the pit and the bottom of which is at substantially the same level as the pit floor to receive bowling pins directly from the pit floor, spaced pin engaging flights traveling first horizontally along said elongated horizontal trough and then upwardly towards said pin receivin station, a drive for moving said flights in an endless continuous path alon said trough to said pin receiving station and back again, the lowermost portion of said continuous path passing through said trough to forward pins lengthwise therealong, pin deflectors mounted over said pit floor adjacent opposite ends of said trough for deflecting bowling pins horizontally along said floor from the sides of said pit towards the center of said trough, and means including said deflectors for moving bowling pins located on the floor of said pit directly into said trough.

20. A device for removing bowling pins one adjacent the path of travel of saidflig-hts for restricting pins advanced by said flights to lengthwise travel, an upwardly inclined guide channel for receiving and guiding bowling pins advanced by said flights, pin guiding means receivingpins from said guide channel, and conveyor drive mechanism moving said flights along a continuous path of travel to advance bowling pins endwise by said flights through said guide channel and pin guiding means to a pin receiving apparatus.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Number 16 Name Date Gray June 16, 1925 Murphy June 1, 1926 Bishop Nov. 20, 1928 Williams Mar. 19, 1929 Williams Dec. 9, 1930 Thomas Mar. 12, 1935 Davis Feb. 9, 1943 Flanagan May 25, 1943 Rundell Nov. 13, 1945 Murphy Sept. 28, 1948 Simpson Nov. 21, 1950 MacFarland May 1, 1951 

